Carnation named Starotin

ABSTRACT

A new carnation cultivar particularly distinguished by its very large, orange-red blooms which are carried upright on long, strong stems having abundant foliage thereby providing very attractive flowers for the cut flower market. This plant is also distinguished by its continuous blooming habit from Spring through Fall and its very good production of blooms.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

This new carnation cultivar originated in greenhouse at Aalsmeer,Holland, in 1985 as a sport of the variety `Stacor` and was propagatedby me and under my direction because of the brilliant color and verylarge size of its bloom. Propagation of this sport was done by means ofcuttings and was carried on by me and under my direction for severalsuccessive generations, which demonstrated clearly that the novelcharacteristics of this plant would hold true from generation togeneration and appeared to be firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

My new carnation variety is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows, in full color, a three-fourths face view of atypical flower illustrating the attractive irregular mass arrangement ofthe flower petals and its novel overall coloration, the color shownbeing as nearly true to that specified herein as is reasonably possibleto obtain by professional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of my new carnation cultivarbased upon observations of greenhouse grown plants made at Aalsmeer,Holland, in the Fall of 1986, the color designations being specifiedaccording to The R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The RoyalHorticultural Society of London, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: Sport.

Parentage: The carnation named `Stacor`.

Classification:

Botanic.--Dianthus caryophyllus.

Commercial.--Hybrid carnation.

Form: Tall, erect bush.

Height: Averaging about 100 to 150 cm., depending upon season.

Main stem or cane length: Depends upon growing conditions and season.

Branching character: Normal.

Growth: Vigorous and upright with good strength.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Abundant.

Number of leaves.--Depending on season.

Size of leaf.--Medium.

Shape.--Oblong and curling downwardly with entire margins.

Color.--Upper side -- Blue/Green. Under side -- Blue/Green.

Rhizomes: Normal.

Color.--White.

THE BUD

Form: Cylindrical and pointed.

Size: Medium.

Diameter.--About 1.5 cm.

Length.--About 3 cm.

Color of petals: When sepals first divide, 45 B.

Sepals: The sepals are normal for carnations and stand up as the budopens and the flower forms.

Calyx:

Shape.--Pointed.

Size.--Long.

Aspect.--Smooth.

Splitting.--Splitting very rarely occurs.

Flower stem:

Length.--About 120 cm.

Character.--Strong and erect.

Color.--Grey/Green.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Continuous and profuse from Spring through Fall.

Size of bloom: Very large.

Diameter.--About 9 cm.

Depth.--4 to 4.5 cm.

Borne: Singly.

Shape:

When flower opens and as it matures.--High centered and dome shaped.

Petalage:

Number of petals.--From 50 to 70.

Arrangement.--Irregularly imbricated.

Form.--Fan shaped with strongly ruffled margins and very deeply serrateouter ends.

Texture.--Soft.

Aspect.--Shiny.

Color.--All petals, 44 A to 45 B on all sides.

Fragrance: Weak.

Discoloration after full bloom: None.

Persistence: The flower petals hang on and dry.

Lasting quality: About twenty days on the plant and from ten to fifteendays as a cut flower with vase keeping.

Disease resistance: Resistant to Fusarium oxysporum as observed atAalsmeer, Holland.

THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Number.--Moderate.

Arrangement.--Around the ovary.

Anthers.--Size: Medium. Color: Cream.

Filaments.--Length: Up to about 3 mm. Color: White.

Pollen.--There is no pollen.

Pistils:

Number.--One.

Styles.--Length: Long, about 2 mm. Color: White with some red.

Stigma.--Color: White.

Character of ovary: Normal.

This plant most nearly resembles the carnation `Lontarion` (U.S. PlantPat. No. 5,435).

I claim:
 1. The new and distinctive carnation variety and parts thereof,substantially as herein shown and described, characterized by theuniform overall orange-red coloration of its very large blooms, whichare carried on long, strong, upright stems having abundant foliage.